James a



(No Model.) I

J. A. CAMPBELL. BARREL HEAD WEDGE.

N0. 455,607. Patented July 7, 1891.

' WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. CAMPBELL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN M. LOOKI-IART, OF SAME PLACE.

BARREL-HEAD WEDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,607, dated duly 7, 1891.

Application filed April 23, 1890. Serial No. 349,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. CAMP ELL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans,in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Barrel-Head Wedges, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings. to My invention relates to improvements in barrel-head wedges; and it consists of a wedge formed of two pieces and secured together, as herein described and claimed. H

Figure 1 represents a top view of a barrelhead having a wedge embodying the features of my invention inserted therein. Fig. 2 represents a view of a central vertical longitudinal section of the wedge. Fig. 3 represents perspective views of the two parts of the said wedge.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a barrel-head formed of the sections B B, and 2 5 O the tightening-wedge, the latter adapted to be inserted between the said sections. The said Wedge 0 consists of two, parts D and E. The part D has its smaller end beveled on the upper and lower faces thereof, as at F, so as 0 to readily enter the croze of a barrel, and is beveled on the under face of its larger end, as at G, to correspond with the beveled upper face H of the smaller end of the part E. The larger end of the said partE is also beveled, as at J, so as to fit in the croze of the barrel. Each of the said parts has on each of its sides, at the upper edge thereof, a flange K, and has the plane of each of its sides below said flange at substantially a right angle to the under side of the said flange.

In the top of the parts D and E are openings M, for the insertion of the points of a driving-tool. To secure the said parts in position, a staple N is inserted in the openings 5' P in the same, the said openings having inclined walls, so that a longer staple may be used and a greater bearing be provided to withstand the pressure of the sides of the barrel.

The manner of operating the wedge is as follows: The sections B B having been properly placed in the barrel, the part E is in serted between the same, the flange K resting on the upper surface of the edges of the said sections and the bevel J thereof pushed into the croze of the barrel, and by spreading the heads apart by hand at the opposite side and hammering the barrel on the Wedge side the heads will move up tight against thus Wedge andform theproper-wedgespace to receive the wedge D. The partD is then inserted-audits beveled portion F is forced into the croze, the flange K riding on the edges of the upper surface of the sections and the beveled under face G moving on the beveled upper face H of the part E. This action forces the said sections apart, so that their curved edges fit more closely into the croze, thus making a tighter joint. When the sections are sufficiently tightened, the parts D and E are con- 7. nected by means of the staple N, which is inserted in the openings P, the two limbs of the staple preventing any twisting or turning of the parts on each other, and the bend or curve thereof serving for its ready removal from the openings when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a barrel-head, the combination of a wedge consisting of two parts, each having beveled contact ends with inclined openings therein, and a staple adapted to be inserted in said openings, said parts having a single flange 011 each side and beveled outer ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

, JAMES A. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

O. T. NOBLES, J, A. MCCORMICK. 

